A PUERILE FOOL.

Richard bought some cardboard papers and black permanent markers as he hurried to work. The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky, golden fingers of sunlight lit up the small town.

Community volunteers’ swept and cleared dirt on the road, while few people moved about on the street, boarding taxis, and going about their days’ job. Shops were opened and signs that read ‘NOW OPEN’ were put up in front of their glass pane doors.

Richard gave little smiles to the familiar faces he saw as he flagged a taxi.

Richard arranged his tie as he got down from the taxi, his reflection; a young and daring man with a styled and neatly combed brunette, dressed in a sky blue suit that matches the color of his eyes stared back sternly at him for some brief seconds. He smirked and rearrange his tie with his right hand while balancing his newly purchased items in a plastic bag on the right. He paid the driver and waved, the driver shrugged in surprise and drove off.

Richard arrived work too early not because he’s the most punctual male worker, he had something else up his sleeve.

The reflectivity of the sun on the company’s entrance glass doors couldn’t match the slick glint in Richard’s eyes, re arranging his tie, he entered the building. Re arranging his tie was more of a habit, goes with his mood, whether he was nervous or trying to be cunning or even flirt!

The company is a three-story building with 70% made of glass. It made the building glimmer and very beautiful.

Today had a special mix in the air and that’s because it’s the first day of April and April 1^st is widely celebrated as ‘fool’s day’ either you fool someone or get fooled and Richard wasn’t ready to get fooled, he prepared something tricky for his co-workers. 

Richard entered his office which was on the second floor, open the windows to let in fresh air, arranged his table and set to ‘work’. Two hours past and Richard had set his ‘April fools’ prank in motion. And in few minutes his co-workers resumed for the day. Richard had drawn black arrows facing different direction on the different cardboard papers he had earlier bought and wrote underneath them ‘Malfunctioning! this way please’. Nothing is actually wrong with the doors or elevators he placed the signs on, that’s was the prank and it’s just meant for the day, the idea his co-workers think there’s a fault in the elevators or electric doors and avoid them thereby follow the direction the arrows are pointing and use the stairs that will probably lead them to an entrance/exit and find another arrow leading them elsewhere. It’s just like being in a maze and maybe later when there’re some complains, he would pull down the papers and tell them it’s prank.

Richard grinned and rub both palms together, his plan would go as planned and smoothly and when he would tell them it was his April fool prank and how they got fooled, they would all laugh about him and name him a tricky god. He planned doing more in the future.

“Good morning Mr. Richard” A lady’s voice greeted, he knew the owner and swiftly hid the scissor, markers and cardboard remains inside his desk drawers before looking at the lady that drew to a halt at his side. Miss Shirley, the Managing director’s personal assistance. Her midnight black hair bounced over her shoulders and her lilac lips curled in a small smile as she squints her suspicious eyes at him. She’s petite and delicate-featured, pretty in a flawed, accessible way and also had a bubbly outlook. Her glossy skin matched her outfit; a pink collared button down shirt tucked in a suit skirt. Her straight legs stood well with the closed-toe loafers she wore.

Richard returned her smile and relaxed on his chair. “Morning sunshine flower” he drawled looking his best, he arranged his tie and smirk at her. That was the least he could do to get her mind off his business. He wouldn’t want someone spoiling his planned prank.

She rolled her eyes at him already used to his flirty attitude. “What are you up to?” She asked using her eyes to motion to his desk drawer.

“Nothing that should concern you. Why are you here?” Richard asked with a serious tone.

“I get it; you don’t want me prying” She chuckled gently “Anyway I guess you’ve forgotten about the visit to Mr. Green’s firm, the MD might or might not be waiting”

Richard sat up, of course he’d forgotten and that was because he was too pre-occupied with the thoughts of pulling an awesome prank today.

 “Good thing I came” Shirley smirked and turned to go. “Don’t keep us waiting” She said over her back and exited the office.

“Shit!” Richard muttered the moment she left. Good thing she came, he thought as he grabs his documents, some pads and pen and hurried after her. Too bad he wasn’t going to be present when the chaos starts and there’s no time to pull down the posts.

“I wonder why half of the doors are under construction” Shirley muttered to herself when Richard caught up with her. He simpered to himself. A young man about his age with grey eyes and rough stubble appeared from the right corner as they rounded the stairs on the left.

“Morning Jones! You owe me some stories when I get back” Richard said to the young man.

He was confused and asked what story in bewilderment. Richard only chuckled softly as they disappear from his sight. When the company’s full and activities in top gear, Jones would understand what Richard meant.

*****

Mr. Brown, Richard’s MD got a call in the meeting few hours after they arrived Mr. Greens Firm. They were ten in the board room, a middle-aged man giving a presentation, Mr. Green, a man in his late seventy’s was amongst the people sitting, Mr. Brown sat at the far right corner of the rectangular shaped table with Richard on his left and Shirley on his right. Richard kept jotting some notes down. While Shirley was distracted with the urgent calls she had for the MD. Mr. Brown was trying to avoid causing distractions and concentrate.

Mr. Brown frowned, straight lines outlined his forehead as Shirley gave him a look that read ‘urgent!’. Mr. Brown took the phone, bowed a little to excuse himself and left the board room.

Mr. Brown came back minutes later, his forehead screwed in worry and little beads of sweat started gathering. He motioned Richard and Shirley with his eyes and they got the clue to leave, the presentation did not stop nonetheless. Mr. Brown took long strides to Mr. Green’s seat and whispered some words, Mr. Green shared the same worry look Mr. Brown had as they shook hands.

Richard and Shirley followed Mr. Brown behind as he exited the conference hall. The tension in the car on their way back to the company was as thick as a wet duvet folded into two.

Shirley cleared her throat to ease the tension and finally asked. “is there any problem Sir?”

Mr. Brown stared at her for some seconds and then stared at Richard, it was as if he was trying to process the question she asked and finally replied.

“The company is on fire. And I mean literally”

An electric shiver ran down Richard’s spine and Shirley held her mouth as she gasped in shock. “ Oh my God! What happened?” Richard asked himself aloud, there was no response. Nobody knew the answer. Not yet.

Richard sulk in some breaths as their car approach the company, there was a very thick smoke from afar and red and white trucks came into view; Fire fighter’s truck and two ambulance trucks. Few cones were set around some entrances.

Men in red and yellow stripes wearing facemasks connected by a hose to an SCBA (Self-contained breathing apparatus) came out of the smoking building helping one or two injured person to the ambulance for immediate care. While some men in bright yellow outfits were on the ladder of the truck holding water hoses and positioned it to where the fire roared and thick grey smoke rose.

Mr. Brown, Richard and Shirley got down from the vehicle and approached the scene, rescue personnel wheeled a stretcher beside Richard and he saw Jones on it, Jones was badly burnt but his watered eyes were opened and he mouthed “this is going to be a long story”.

Richard was told what happened by another co-worker.

*****FLASHBACK*****

Some worker arrived to work early morning to find some doors and elevator with sign post that read ‘malfunctioning! This way please’. It wasn’t something new for the doors or elevators to be under temporary construction or brief malfunctions, but a little weird that almost all of them at once had defect. They had to use the stairs and sometimes bump into each other.

The afternoon sun bathed the building in it’s warm light when somewhere in an office, a damaged switch sparked.

The office was void of life and the little sparks kindled to fire and slowly spread to the stack of papers beside it. Before the fire alarm went off, there was a blazing mess of fire in the office and it spread to the next office.

People started panicking and scrambling to safety. Some doors and elevators were in ‘defect’ and these terrified people followed the arrows on the sign post hoping to see a successful way to exit the building. Some arrows led them to starting point.

Smoke filled the building and some people started choking and coughing really hard, a stampede started as everybody rushed to escape the pandemonium.

Many documents, systems and properties got burnt beyond repair and many people were injured from the stampede, broken glasses cut or fire burns.

Fire fighters were able to rush to their rescue and so far there have been no record of death, just lots of casualties and damages.

*****END OF FLASHBACK*****

Richard face paled in guilt, he arranged his tie in for lack of air.

He knew 80% percent of the damages were his fault, if he hadn’t put up those signs, of course the repercussion wouldn’t have been severe.

Richard’s main concern is Mr. Brown and his company.

Richard held his head in his palms wondering if the company’s going to get back on their feet soon.

This was one prank that totally went wrong and he regretted ever trying to pull a big one with every fiber in him.